"We work on that a lot," Benintendi said. "We try to throw it two times a week to bases before batting practice. ... Yeah, I definitely think that in the game my throws have been more accurate, which is nice."

Setup man Matt Barnes walked the first two batters of the eighth inning, then got Carlos Correa to line out hard to left field for the first out.

Robby Scott replaced Barnes. He walked Brian McCann on four pitches.

Carlos Beltran then stroked a single to left field with the bases loaded against Scott.

One run scored but Benintendi cut down the tying run at the plate with his perfect throw to Christian Vazquez.

"I was pretty excited," Benintendi said. "I think everybody was. It was another four-hour game so glad we could get out of here in nine (innings)."